Tag: alternative curves

We had so much fun putting outfits together with our retro dresses, we did it again! This time we wanted to show you classic vintage styling plus a few more alternative looks. Barb, our Client Relations Specialist, was the model; great job, Barb! That’s what style is all about, taking an outfit and really injecting your own personality into it.

We choose an Olivia Dress in Harvest Bloom; so appropriate to the season. It was such a beautiful autumn day, we went to a park in full fall foliage called Momiji Gardens. Why stay indoors when you can work outside?

Every day is a Retro day!

Barb loves to wear boots and tights with her dresses. How about these amazing vintage plaid Doc Marten Boots?! Take chances—plaids and florals can look amazing together. Erstwilder Red Poodle Brooch, Lands End Cardigan

Rockabilly Retro

Maybe you’re the lead singer of a band (like Barb) or going to a funky event like a burlesque show… What to wear? Layering a corset over your dress is a great way to add alternate style to your dress. Barb’s wearing her own hat, shrug and boots with a Lace Embrace Corset and a Vintage Chiffon Crinoline in Black Licorice.

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Rebel, Rebel…

Maybe you’ve seen a popular video being circulating on Facebook called “Rebel Wilson has a problem with Plus Size Fashion”. She goes on to say that “Some brands just put out the same dress in a whole wide range of sizes and it’s not going to look as good”. Well, Rebel, we’d love to send you a dress to prove to you that it is totally possible and even desirable to have the same dress in all sizes. Us bigger girls want the same clothes the smaller girls can wear, right?

Rebel Wilson photo credit: Getty Images

What we think Rebel was trying to say was that most brands don’t get the fit right in an extended size range. And we totally agree with her on that issue. That’s a problem with fit and grading (making the other sizes) not with design. She’s right when she says that there are a whole bunch of monkey arms out there and legs that are too long; not to mention sizing all over the place, weird armholes and gaping buttons over the bust. The fit of plus size is a tricky thing, not easily mastered. But that doesn’t mean it’s not possible! I think our customers would agree we know how to fit a plus size body very well.

Confidence AND Curves!

Rebel goes on to say that there is no youthful, confident plus size fashion out there. We beg to differ! Plus Size fashion has been plagued by poor quality, poor fit and dowdy styling for too long. It doesn’t have to be that way! The more designers who “get it” the better off we all are. Confidence comes from wearing clothing that fits just right!

Try it on and see for yourself…

We’re going to send Rebel one of our great-fitting dresses in a youthful, confident print. How about a dress with skulls, donuts, lipstick or planets (yes, all coming to Cherry Velvet this Fall) that shows off a woman’s curves in a truly flattering way.

We think she’d look amazing in one of our dresses! What do ya’ll think??

Thanks for being awesome, Rebel! We love you!

XOX Cherry Velvet

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When Cherry Velvet broke into the industry, we centered our brand around Pinup-style. Our photoshoots had a decidedly classic look: Black winged eyeliner, vintage eyebrows and eye catching victory rolls. However, we soon discovered from comments by our customers that they often felt intimidated by this styling; many of our customers felt that they would not be able to achieve the full look. When we used alternative models with visible tattoos, we received feedback that they distracted from our dresses and it was difficult to imagine the looks without tattoos.

We always take the feedback we receive and use it to grow and change as a brand. At the end of the day, we’re a vintage inspired fashion line; our intention is never to alienate anyone or their style. To that end, in response to the feedback we’ve received over the years, we choose to shoot our catalogue/online shop images and advertising in a way that ensures that we can appeal to the broadest audience we can, while still upholding our own commitment to releasing inspired dresses with original prints and all inclusive sizing.

Having said that, by no means are we confined to being just mainstream. As an office, we’re as unique, alternative and funky as our dresses. Our rainbow-haired office administrator, Tracy, loves to dress in Disney-inspired outfits every Friday (“Disneybounding”) and our Media Director, Logan, will never stop adding tattoos to his growing sleeves. As expressive as we are at Cherry Velvet HQ, we want our dresses to be a colourful canvas for our customers to be inspired by and accessorize with; to show their flair.

Recently, we had the opportunity to work with a local alternative fashion blogger, Margot Meanie. An East Van girl, through and through, we were excited to discover her unique style. After a creative brainstorm meeting, we were stoked to set up a photoshoot with her. We couldn’t wait to see what kind of alternative spin she would put on one of our newest and currently most popular dresses, The Lana.

Many of Margot’s #ootd shots are often taken with a Street Photography feel. We wanted to echo her alternative style and so chose an eye catching location that would go perfectly. We ended up deciding on an East Van favourite, The Rio Theatre.

We also took some time to chat with Margot a bit and get her thoughts in a mini-interview; we’re excited to share both the photoshoot and her interview below!

Read on!

1. How did you get into Fashion blogging?

I was wooed by all the pretty photos on Pinterest. I wanted similar shots captured of me in the outfits I’d create, so there’s a tiny bit of vanity at play there. But I also wanted to help plus size babes find resources to find cool clothes that suit their personalities. It can be really difficult as a plus size shopper to find the clothes we like AND for them to fit us. Since brick and mortar locations are drying up for us to physically shop in and try things on, we are forced to turn to online shopping. Being able to share my knowledge about how to start shopping online,where to look and to be able to show how the clothes look on my body, which may be similar to theirs is important to me to help empower stylish babes of all sizes.

2. Where/who do you get your fashion inspirations from?

EVERYWHERE! But social media is probably my number 1 influence, mostly because it’s so vast. I follow fashion bloggers of all sizes, I have over 1000 instagram accounts I follow { though they’re not all fashion, there is a lot of art, tattoos and drag queens in there }, Pinterest is an amazing resource too, because it gives you the ability to create mood boards so effortlessly and if you find an item you love, there is often a direct link to that item!

Social media has just opened up a world of possibility. It also helps you craft the media you consume, instead of just being force fed the standard unattainable, “aspirational” beauty ideal, you get to craft your own beauty standard and it helps you broaden your scope of beauty and acceptance. I’d also say searching hashtags on platforms like instagram or tumblr is really great as well, some of my favourite hashtags are: #alternativecurves, #goldenconfidence, #psootd and #whatfatgirlsactuallywear

3. What drew you to reach out to Cherry Velvet?

My friend gave me a heads up about a model call and I was really excited to find an inclusive brand from my own hometown! Vancouver, as much as I adore it, can be downright difficult to navigate as a plus size shopper, we have about 6 options to go shopping in and try actually try things on, so I really want to celebrate and herald local and Canadian brands serving the plus size community with beautifully crafted items.